Portable electric lamps



Dec. 4, 1962 w. c. THOMPSON PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 6, 1961 m N my 4 TTOR NE Y Dec. 4, 1962 w. c. THOMPSONPORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1961 INVEN TOR.

W/L LIAM C. THOMPSON A TTORNE Y vd qu wwdwwv hwwwwwwwwwwwmvm viii-ii IUnited States Patent Oflice 3,067,324 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,067,324PORTABLE ELECTRIC LAMPS William C. Thompson, P.0. Box 371, Desert HotSprings, Calif. Filed Jan. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 81,114 Claims. (Cl.240-1061) My invention relates generally to lamps and more particularlyto electric torches commonly referred to as flashlights which utilize adry cell as a source of electrical energy.

An object of my invention is to provide a flashlight which isstructurally characterized in a manner to dispense with the relativelycostly metal case containing the dry batteries, so as to materiallysimplify the construction and reduce the cost of the flashlight byenabling an exteriorly insulated and water-sealed dry cell to bedetachably secured directly to a permanent lamp and switch unit which irigidly supported on the dry cell with the latter being held in the handto carry the flashlight and to manipulate the switch of the unit, asWell as being instantly replaceable when exhausted, by a fresh cell.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flashlight of the abovedescribed character in which the electrical circuit from the dry cell toone electrode of the lamp and to the water-sealed switch of the unitwill be completed automatically upon attaching the cell to the unit in amanner to form a water-sealed joint therebetween, with the actuatingmember of the switch being mounted on the unit at a locationconveniently accessible for operation by a finger of the hand holdingthe flashlight, to close and open the lamp circuit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flashlight of the abovedescribed character in which a transparent glass protecting cover forthe lamp is cushionmounted in the unit to prevent breaking or crackingthe cover should the flashlight be dropped, the cover being sealedfluid-tight to protect the flashlight against the ingress of moisture.

With these and other objects in view, my invention resides in thecombinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements asset forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

FiGURE 1 is a view showing in longitudinal axial section, one form ofportable electric lamp embodying my invention, and showing the switch ofthe lamp in open position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the lamp with theswitch in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the lamp taken on the line3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation, of the lamp shown in the precedingfigures;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 55of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view in longitudinal axial section, of a second form ofportable electric lamp embodying my invention, and showing the switch ofthe lamp in open position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 with the switch inclosed position; and

FIGURE 8 is a view of the combined lamp and switch unit of FIGURES 6 and7 in side elevation.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1 to5, inclusive, this form of my invention comprises a combined lamp andswitch unit U and a source of electrical energy such as a dry battery orcell B, which latter displaces the usual relative costly metal case orcontainer (not shown) for the battery and is attached directly to theunit U.

The unit U is composed of a tubular body 10 of suitable electricallyinsulating material with one end flared and externally screw threaded at11. At the base of the threads 11 the body is provided with an annularshoulder 12 on which seats a sealing ring 13. The flared end of the body10 forms an annular seat 14 for the peripheral flange 15 of a plasticreflector 16 the front of which is closed by a transparent disk cover 17bounded around its peripheral portion with a cushioning andmoisturesealing member 18 of U-shaped cross section. A clamping ring 19of electrically insulating material is provided with internal annularshoulders 20 and 21 and is further provided with internal screw threads22 for co-action with the screw threads 11 in clamping the glass cover17 and reflector flange 15 fluid-tight against the body 10, while thesealing ring 13 seals the joint between the body and clamping ringfluid-tight.

The reflector 16 is provided with a central opening 25 in which iscrimped at 26 the neck portion 27 of an openended metal collar 28forming part of and projecting centrally from a lamp supporting element29 in the form of a cup to provide a disk 30 having a peripheralelectrical contact wall or flange 31 spaced from the inner wall of thebody 10. The collar 28 is provided with internal screw threads 32 forco-action with external screw threads 33 on a cup shaped lamp holder 34of electrically insulating material. The holder 34 freely receives themetal electrode-forming base or shell 35 of an electric lamp 36, andco-acts with an annular flange 37 on the base 35 to force the flangeinto firm engagement with an internal annular shoulder 38 formed at thejuncture of the collar 28 and its neck portion 27, with the bulb 39 ofthe lamp projecting freely through the opening 25, all to the end ofrigidly supporting the lamp, yet enabling the lamp to be readily removedfor replacement when burned out, by simply unscrewing the holder 34 whenthe latter has been rendered accessible by unscrewing the ring 19 andremoving the cover 17 and the reflector 16 from the body 10.

Secured in a central opening in the bottom wall 40 of the lamp holder 34is a contact 41 provided within the holder with a contact spring 42which is urged into firm engagement with the center electrode 43 of thelamp 36 when the holder is screwed tightly into the collar. The contact41 is formed exteriorly of the lamp holder 34 into spring contact arms44 adapted to electrically coact with the battery B in a manner to behereinafter described.

Molded or otherwise secured in the wall of the body 10 at spacedlocations along the length thereof are contacts 45 and 46 of a switch Sfor controlling the flow of current from the battery B to the lamp 36.The contacts 45 and 46 are provided with spring arms 47 and 48,respectively, with the arm 47 being disposed to make a firm wipingelectrical contact with the periphery 31 of the lamp supporting element29 when the reflector 16 is rigidly supported in the body 10 by theclamping ring 19.

A bridging contact 50 in the form of a bowed leaf spring with partiallycurled ends, Works in a recess 51 in an actuating member 52 ofelectrical insulaing material, and is secured between its ends to theactuating member by a headed pin 53. The member 52 is reciprocablymounted in the body 10 in fluid-sealing engagement therewith by asealing member 54 or other means, for movement between a stop shoulder55 on the body 10 and a stop pin 56 driven into the body, by means oftongues 57 on opposite sides of the member slidably fitting intoguideways 58 formed in the body 10.

enemas In the open position of the switch S shown in FIGURE 1, one endof the bridging contact 50 is spaced from the contact 45, whereas theother end of the contact 50 engages the contact 46 and releasablyretains the switch in open position by seating in a depression 60 in thecontact 46. In the closed position of the switch S, the contact 50engages the contact 45 and remains in engagement with the contact 46 soas to electrically conmeet the contacts 45 and 46, with said other endof the contact 50 seating in a second depression 61 in the contact 46 toreleasably retain the switch in closed position, all as shown in FIGURE2.

It will be noted that in order to prevent the reflector 16 from rotatingin the clamping ring 19, the flange 15 is provided with one or moreperipheral lugs 62 disposed to engage detents 63 on the ring.

The battery B embodies conventional construction to the extent of usingwell known active filer material 65 in a zinc cup 7% which, inaccordance with my invention, is covered throughout its sides and bottomwith a cover 71 of electrically insulating and waterproof material suchas plastic coated paper. The top end of the cup 70 projects from thecover 71 and is reduced in diameter and externally screw threaded at 72to provide an attaching portion or collar 73 which is detachably securedto the unit U by being screwed into threads 74 of the body until the endof the body bears against a sealing ring 75 which seats upon an annularshoulder '76 formed on the cup 70 by the attaching portion 73 thereof,all to the end of producing a fluid-tight joint between the battery Band the unit U.

In the assembled position of the battery B and the unit U as shown inFIGURE 1, the outer metallic-capped end of the centrally located carbonelectrode 80 of the battery makes electrical contact with the centerelectrode 43 of the lamp 36 through the contact arms 44 of the contact 41, whereas the screw threaded attaching portion 73 of the Zinc cup 70makes a firm wiping contact with the spring arm 48 of the switch contact4-6.

Thus, it will be clear that upon moving the switch S from its openposition shown in FIGURE 1 to its closed position shown in FIGURE 2,current will be supplied to the lamp 36 by completing an electricalcircuit as follows:

From the carbon electrode 80 of the battery B, through the contact 41,contact spring 42, center electrode 43 of the lamp 36, lamp filament,lamp shell 35, supporting element 29, switch contact 45, bridgingcontact 50, switch contact as and zinc cup 70 so as to supply current tothe lamp to light same.

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that when the batteryB is exhausted, a fresh battery can be substituted with the utmost easeand dispatch, and that by directly attaching the battery to thepermanent lamp and switch unit U, the usual relatively costly metal caseor container for the battery is dispensed with.

Referring now to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, this second form of my inventioncomprises a combined lamp and switch unit U which also utilizes theidentical dry cell or battery B previously described in detail, todisplace the usual metal container or case for the battery and isattached directly to the unit U;

The unit U is composed of. a tubular body 18a of suitable electricallyinsulating material and of cylindrical form with open ends and anoutside diameter corresponding to that of the battery B. The body 10a isprovided with an internal annu ar shoulder 11a to form a seat for atransparent glass disk cover 12a bounded around its peripheral portionwith a cushioning and moisture sealing member 13a of Ushaped crosssection.

The body 1011 is internally screw threaded from its other end to a pointadjacent to the shoulder 11a as indicated by 74a to receive a cup shapedsupporting element 29a of sheet metal which is externally screw threadedat 16a to enable it to be screwed into the body for co-action of aninternal annular flange 17a on the open end of the element 29a with anexternal annular flange 1811 on a metallic reflector 19a to clamp theglass cover 12a and the reflector against the shoulder 11a and provide afluid-tight joint therebetween as well as cushion the cover againstbreakage should the flashlight be dropped.

The disk portion 30a of the element 29a is provided with finger pieces26a punched out of the metal, by which the element can be screwed intoand out of the body 10a with the utmost ease and dispatch. The element29a is further provided with a central opening bounded by an internallyscrew threaded sleeve or collar 2&1 projecting axially into the elementand supporting a lamp holder 34a of electrically insulating materialwhich is externally screw threaded at 33a to enable it to be screwedinto the collar. The holder 34a freely receives the electrodeformingbase or shell 35a of an electric lamp 36a and co-acts with an annularflange 37a on the base 35a to force the flange into firm engagement withthe reflector the around the central opening 25a of the latter throughwhich the lamp bulb 39a projects, all to the end of rigidly supportingthe lamp, yet enabling the latter to be readily removed for replacementwhen burned out, by simply unscrewing the holder 34a.

Secured in a central opening in the bottom wall 40a of the lamp holder 3M is a contact 41a provided within the member with a contact spring 42awhich is urged into firm engagement with the center electrode 43a of thelamp 36a when the holder 34a is screwed tightly into the sleeve 28a. Thecontact 41a is formed exteriorly of the lamp holder 34a into springcontact arms 44a adapted to electrically co-act with the centerelectrode 80 of the battery B in the manner previously described in thefirst form of my invention.

Molded or otherwise secured in the wall of the body 10a at spacedlocations along the length of the body are contacts 45:: and 46a of aswitch 5' for controlling the flow of current from the battery B to thelamp 36a. The contacts 45a and 46a are provided with spring arms 47a and48a, respectively, with the arm 47a being disposed to make a wipingelectrical contact with the periphery 31a of the supporting element 2%when the latter is screwed tightly into the body 10a as shown in FIGURES6 and 7.

A bridging contact 50a in the form of a bowed leaf spring with partiallycurled ends, works in a recess 51a in an actuating member 52a ofelectrical insulating material, and is secured medially betwen its endsto the actuating member by a headed pin 53a. The member 52a isreciprocably mounted on the body ltla in fluid-sealing engagementtherewith by a sealing member 54a or other means, for movement between astop lug 55a on the body 10a and a stop pin 56a driven into the body, bymeans of tongues 57a on opposite sides of the member, slidably fittinginto guideways 58a formed in the body 1% as shown in FIGURE 8.

In the open position of'the switch S shown in FIGURE 6, one end of thebridging contact 50a is spaced from the contact 45a and releasablyretains the switch in open position by seating in a depression 60a inthe contact 46a. In the closed position of" the switch S, the contact50a engages the contact 45a and remains in engagement with the contact46a so as to electrically connect the contacts 45a and 46a, with saidother end of the contact 50a seating in a second depression 61a in thecontact 46a to releasably retain the switch S in closed position.

The external screw threads 72 on the attaching portion or collar 73 ofthe battery B are screwed into the threads 74a of the body 10a so thatthe carbon electrode 80 of the battery makes'electrical contact With thecenter electrode 43a of the lamp 36a through the contact arms 44a of thecontact 41a, whereas the attaching portion 73 of the zinc cup makes afirm Wiping contact with the spring arm 48a of. the switch 46:: Thus, itwill be clear that upon moving the switch S from its open position shownin FIGURE 6 to its closed position shown in FIGURE 7, current will besupplied to the lamp 36a by completing an electrical circuit as follows:

From the carbon electrode 80 of the battery B through the contact 41a,center electrode 43a of the lamp 361;, lamp filament, lamp shell 35a,reflector 16a, element 29a, switch contact 45a, bridging contact 50a,switch contact 46a and zinc cup 70, so as to supply current to the lampto light same.

From the foregoing description, it will be manifest that this form of myinvention provides the same advantages as the previously described formshown in FIGURES l to 5, inclusive.

1 claim:

1. A flashlight comprising: a tubular body of electrically insulatingmaterial internally screw threaded and provided with an annularshoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallicreflector having a central opening and bearing against said cover; ametallic supporting element externally screw threaded and screwed intothe threads of said body with said element bearing against saidreflector to clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body andelectrically connect the element and reflector; a lamp holder ofelectrically insulating material mounted in said element and adapted toreceive the base of a lamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting throughthe reflector opening and the lamp base in electrical contact with thereflector; said lamp holder having a contact adapted to electricallyengage the center electrode of the lamp; a switch having contactssupported by said body and exposed interiorly thereof with one of saidcontacts electrically engaged by said element; a dry cell having acarbon electrode and an electrode-forming cup provided with anelectrically insulating water-sealed cover; said cup having an attachingportion projecting from said cover at the top of the cell and screwedinto said threads of the body to detachably secure the cell to the bodywith the other switch contact engaged by said attaching portion of saidcup and the contact of said lamp holder engaged by said carbon electrodeof the cell, so that upon closing of said switch through its contacts, acircuit will be completed to include the cell and the lamp.

2. A flashlight comprising: an open ended tubular body of electricallyinsulating material internally screw threaded and provided with anannular shoulder; a transparent cover seated against said shoulder; ametallic reflector having a central opening and a perimetral flangebearing against said cover; a cup shaped metallic supporting elementexternally screw threaded and screwed into the threads of said body;said element having a perimetral flange bearing against said reflectorto clamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electricallyconnect the element and reflector; said element having a central openingand an internally screw threaded collar bounding said opening a cupshaped lamp holder of electrically insulating material externally screwthreaded into said collar and adapted to receive the base of a lamp withthe bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector opening and thelamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lamp holderhaving a contact adapted to engage the center electrode of the lamp; aswitch having a plurality of spaced contacts extending through the wallof said body and having portions exposed interiorly and exteriorly ofthe wall, with one of said contacts electrically engaged by saidelement; said switch including an actuator reciprocably mounted on saidbody and having a bridging contact disposed to bridge said switchcontacts in one extreme position of the actuator; a dry cell having acarbon electrode and an electrode-forming cup provided with anelectrically insulating water-sealed cover; said cup having an attachingcollar of reduced diameter projecting from said cover at the top of thecell and provided with external screw threads screwed into said threadsof the body to detachably secure the cell to the body with the other ofsaid spaced switch contacts engaged by said attaching collar and saidcontact of said lamp holder engaged by said carbon electrode of thecell, so that when said switch contacts are bridged by said bridgingcontact, a circuit will be completed to include the cell and lamp.

3. In a flashlight, a combined lamp and switch unit for dry cellscomprising: a tubular body of electrically insulating materialinternally screw threaded and provided with an annular shoulder; atransparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallic reflectorhaving a central opening and bearing against said cover; a metallicsupporting element externally screw threaded and screwed into thethreads of said body with said element bearing against said reflector toclamp the latter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connectthe element and reflector; a lamp holder of electrically insulatingmaterial mounted in said element and adapted to receive the base of alamp with the bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector openingand the lamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lampholder having a contact adapted to engage the center electrode of thelamp; a switch having contacts supported by said body and exposedinteriorly thereof with one of said contacts electrically engaged bysaid element with the other of said contacts adapted to be electricallyconnected to one electrode of a dry cell and said contact of the lampholder electrically connected to the other electrode of the cell whenthe cell is attached to the body.

4. In a flashlight, a combined lamp and switch unit for dry cellscomprising: an open ended tubular body of electrically insulatingmaterial internally screw threaded and provided with an annularshoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallicreflector having a central opening and a perimetral flange bearingagainst said cover; a cup shaped metallic supporting element externallyscrew threaded and screwed into said threads of the body; said elementhaving a perimetral flange hearing against said reflector to clamp thelatter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect theelement and reflector; said element having a central opening and aninternally screw threaded collar bounding said opening; a cup shapedlamp holder of electrically insulating material externally screwthreaded into said collar and adapted to receive the base of a lamp withthe bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector opening and thelamp base in electrical contact with the reflector; said lamp holderhaving a contact adapted to engage the center electrode of the lamp; aswitch having a plurality of spaced contacts extending through the wallof said body and having portions exposed interiorly and exteriorly ofthe wall, with one of said contacts electrically engaged by saidelement; the other of said spaced contacts adapted to be electricallyconnected to one electrode of a dry cell, and said lamp holder contactelectrically connected to the other electrode of the cell when thelatter is attached to the body.

5. A combined lamp and switch unit for portable electric lampscomprising: an open ended tubular body of electrically insulatingmaterial internally screw threaded and provided with an annularshoulder; a transparent cover seating against said shoulder; a metallicreflector having a central opening and a perimetral flange bearingagainst said cover; a cup shaped metallic supporting element externallyscrew threaded and screwed into said threads of the body; said elementhaving a perimetral flange bearing against said reflector to clamp thelatter and cover tightly in the body and electrically connect theelement and reflector; said element having a central opening and aninternally screw threaded collar bounding said opening; a cup shapedlamp holder of electrically insulating material externally screwthreaded into said collar and adapted to receive the base of a lamp withthe bulb of the lamp projecting through said reflector open ing and thelamp base in electrical contact with the re: flector; said lamp holderhaving a contact adapted to err- '7 gage -the center electrode of thelamp and adapted to be engaged by one electrode of a dry cell; and aswitch mounted on said body and including one contact electricallyengageable with said element, and another contact adapted toelectrically connect with the other electrode of the dry cell.

2,121,1114 Beck June 21, 1938 8 Kuhns May 21, 1940 Deibel Feb; 10, 1942Miller Sept. 9, 1947 Hipwell et a1. M I 18, 1949 Samalion Jan. 10, 1950Garland Oct. 7, 1952 Schotz Aug. 27, 1957 Schildbach Sept. 10, 1957Moore Dec. 24, 1957 Lockwood July 21, 1959 Bruehl Apr. 5, 1960

